Electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling and operation method for the same

ABSTRACT

An electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling includes an operating unit, a controlling unit, a driving unit, and a clamping unit. The controlling unit controls the driving unit according to the way in which a user operates the operating unit, the clamping unit is driven by the driving unit to move between an initial position, a pre-pulling position, and a severing position. The operation method for the electric riveter entails: providing a rivet when the clamping unit is at the initial position; operating the operating unit in a first operation mode to move the clamping unit to the pre-pulling position and clamp the rivet; and operating the operating unit in a second operation mode to move the clamping unit to the severing position and sever the rivet. Accordingly, the rivet is prevented from falling off during the operation process, thereby enhancing ease of use of the electric riveter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to electric riveters, and more particularly, to an electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling and an operation method for the same.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional electric riveter essentially comprises a casing, a button, a nozzle, a driver, and a rivet pulling mechanism. The button and the nozzle are disposed outside the casing. The driver and the rivet pulling mechanism are disposed inside the casing. A user inserts a stem of a rivet into the nozzle and then inserts a body of the rivet into a through-hole of an object to be fixed in place. Afterward, the user presses the button to start the driver; hence, the rivet pulling mechanism is driven to move in a direction away from the nozzle, whereas the rivet pulling mechanism clamps the stem of the rivet and moves. After moving for a predetermined distance, the rivet pulling mechanism severs the stem, and thus the body of the rivet is fixed in place within the through-hole of the object to be fixed in place.

However, the rivet will fall off the nozzle if the nozzle tilts downward slightly before the user presses the button. Hence, it is necessary for the user to hold the electric riveter with both hands in a manner to allow the nozzle to point horizontally or slightly upward. As a result, the conventional electric riveter lacks ease of use.

In attempt to overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art, a commercially available electric riveter features fixing the rivet to the nozzle by magnetic attraction before the driver starts driving the rivet pulling mechanism with a view to preventing the rivet from falling off during the operation process. However, the commercially available electric riveter itself does have a drawback—if a user does not want a rivet which has been fixed to the nozzle, the user has to pull the rivet out by hand, inconveniently, and laboriously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling and an operation method for the same so as to overcome the drawbacks of the aforesaid conventional electric riveters.

In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides an electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling, comprising: an operating unit operable by a user; a controlling unit electrically connected to the operating unit; a driving unit electrically connected to the controlling unit; and a clamping unit connected to the driving unit, wherein the controlling unit controls the driving unit according to how a user operates the operating unit, such that the clamping unit is driven by the driving unit to move between an initial position, a pre-pulling position, and a severing position, allowing the clamping unit at the initial position to receive a rivet, the clamping unit at the pre-pulling position to clamp the rivet, and the clamping unit at the severing position to sever the rivet.

The present invention further provides an operation method for use with the aforesaid electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling. The operation method comprises the steps of: a: inserting a rivet into a clamping unit when the clamping unit is at an initial position; b: operating an operating unit in a first operation mode to cause the clamping unit to move from the initial position to a pre-pulling position and clamp the rivet; and c: operating the operating unit in a second operation mode to cause the clamping unit to move from the pre-pulling position to a severing position and sever the rivet.

Hence, the user performs step a and step b first, such that an intended rivet is fixed in place with the electric riveter beforehand. After the rivet has been positioned at an object to be fixed in place, the user performs step c to cause the electric riveter to sever the rivet and fix the rivet to the object to be fixed in place. In doing so, the rivet is prevented from falling off during the operation process, thereby enhancing ease of use of the electric riveter.

Furthermore, as regards the electric riveter and operation method of the present invention, after step a, the user operates the operating unit in a third operation mode to cause the clamping unit to move from the pre-pulling position to the initial position and then release the rivet. Furthermore, the controlling unit causes automatically the clamping unit to move to the initial position and release the rivet when the clamping unit stays at the pre-pulling position throughout a predetermined duration, such that the user can remove the rivet from the electric riveter conveniently and easily.

The structures, features, assembly, and use of the electric riveter and operation method of the present invention are described in detail and illustrated with an embodiment hereunder. However, persons skilled in the art understand that the detailed description and the specific embodiment are illustrative of the present invention rather than restrictive of the claims of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a clamping unit at an initial position;

FIG. 4 is identical to FIG. 3, except that FIG. 4 shows the clamping unit at a pre-pulling position;

FIG. 5 is identical to FIG. 3, except that FIG. 5 shows the clamping unit at a severing position; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart-block diagram of an operation method for use with the electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electric riveter 10 capable of rivet pre-pulling, which is no different from its conventional counterparts in appearance, comprises a case 20, a nozzle 30, and an operating unit 40. The case 20 comprises a grip portion 22 to be gripped by a user, a base 24, and a body 26, wherein the base 24 and the body 26 are disposed at the two ends of the grip portion 22, respectively. The nozzle 30 extends from the front end of the body 26. The operating unit 40 is disposed at the grip portion 22 and adapted to be operated by the user conveniently.

Referring to FIG. 2 through FIG. 5, a controlling unit 50, a driving unit 60, and a clamping unit 70 are disposed inside the case 20 of the electric riveter 10. The controlling unit 50 is electrically connected to the operating unit 40 and the driving unit 60. The clamping unit 70 is connected to the driving unit 60. The controlling unit 50 controls the driving unit 60 in a manner according to the way in which the user operates the operating unit 40, such that the clamping unit 70 is driven by the driving unit 60 to move 4), between an initial position P1 (shown in FIG. 3), a pre-pulling position P2 (shown in FIG. 4), and a severing position P3 (shown in FIG. 5).

In this embodiment, the operating unit 40 comprises a button 42 (shown in FIG. 1) and an electrically conductive component (not shown) which can be triggered by the button 42 and is electrically connected to the controlling unit 50. The driving unit 60 comprises a motor (not shown) and a transmission wheel 62 (shown in FIG. 3). The motor is disposed at a rear half portion 262 of the body 26 and electrically connected to the controlling unit 50. The motor drives the transmission wheel 62 to rotate. The clamping unit 70 is positioned at a front half portion 264 of the body 26 and comprises a spindle 72, a limit element 74, and two clamping elements 76. The spindle 72 has a rear end meshing with the transmission wheel 62 and a front end extending into the nozzle 30. The limit element 74 is fixed to the front end of the spindle 72. The two clamping elements 76 are disposed in a tapered through-hole 742 of the limit element 74. The controlling unit 50 controls the motor of the driving unit 60 to rotate in a manner that the transmission wheel 62 rotating together with the motor drives the spindle 72 of the clamping unit 70 to rotate. The clamping unit 70 rotates to perform linear motion simultaneously and thereby moves to the initial position P1, the pre-pulling position P2, and the severing position P3.

The aforesaid preferred embodiment is not restrictive of the structures of the operating unit 40, the driving unit 60, and the clamping unit 70 of the present invention. The electric riveter 10 of the present invention will function well to fulfill the above and other objectives, provided that the operating unit 40 is operable by the user to enable the controlling unit 50 to control the rotation of the driving unit 60 and thereby drive the clamping unit 70 to move. An operation method for use with the electric riveter 10 is described in detail below. Also, the effects of positioning the clamping unit 70 at the aforesaid positions P1, P2, P3 are described below.

Referring to FIG. 6, the operation method for use with the electric riveter 10 comprises the steps as follows:

Step a: Insert a rivet 80 into the clamping unit 70, when the clamping unit 70 is at the initial position P1 (i.e., step 91 in FIG. 6.) Referring to FIG. 3, when the clamping unit 70 is at the initial position P1, the user can insert a stem 82 of the rivet 80 into the nozzle 30, thereby allowing the stem 82 to be inserted between the two clamping elements 76.

Step b: Operate the operating unit 40 (for example, press the button 42 once, that is, press the button 42 gently and then release it) in a first operation mode to move the clamping unit 70 from the initial position P1 to the pre-pulling position P2 and clamp the rivet 80 (i.e., step 92 in FIG. 6.) Referring to FIG. 4, when the clamping unit 70 is at the pre-pulling position P2, the two clamping elements 76 are compressed by the limit element 74 to thereby clamp the stem 82 of the rivet 80; at this point in time, the user positions a body 84 of the rivet 80 at an object (not shown) to be fixed in place, and the rivet 80 will not fall off even if the nozzle 30 does not point horizontally or upward during the aforesaid positioning process.

Step c: Operate the operating unit 40 (for example, keep pressing the button 42, that is, press the button 42 continuously) in a second operation mode to move the clamping unit 70 from the pre-pulling position P2 to the severing position P3 and sever the rivet 80 (as shown in FIG. 5), i.e., step 93 in FIG. 6. At this point in time, the body 84 of the rivet 80 is separated from the stem 82 of the rivet 80 and fixed to the object to be fixed in place.

As regards the electric riveter 10 capable of rivet pre-pulling and the operation method for the same, the controlling unit 50 is configured to control the clamping unit 70 to return to the initial position P1 when the button 42 has been pressed for a long period of time and then released (i.e., step 94 in FIG. 6), such that the user can perform step a through step c once more.

As regards the electric riveter 10 capable of rivet pre-pulling and the operation method for the same, after step b (i.e., step 92 in FIG. 6), the user operates the operating unit 40 in a third operation mode (for example, presses the button 42 twice) to cause the clamping unit 70 to move from the pre-pulling position P2 to the initial position P1 and then release the rivet 80 (i.e., step 95 in FIG. 6). Hence, after step a and step b, if a user does not want the rivet 80 which has been fixed to the nozzle 30, the user can remove the rivet 80 conveniently and easily.

As regards the electric riveter 10 capable of rivet pre-pulling and the operation method for the same, the controlling unit 50 is configured to cause automatically the clamping unit 70 to move to the initial position P1 and release the rivet 80 (i.e., step 96 in FIG. 6) when the clamping unit 70 stays at the pre-pulling position P2 throughout a predetermined duration (such as 10 minutes), so as to protect the clamping unit 70 against damage which might otherwise arise from pre-pulling the rivet 80 for a long period of time.

Constituent components disclosed in the aforesaid embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than restrictive of the scope of the present invention. Changes made to the constituent components or replacement thereof by the other equivalent components should fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling, comprising: an operating unit operable by a user; a controlling unit electrically connected to the operating unit; a driving unit electrically connected to the controlling unit; and a clamping unit connected to the driving unit, wherein the controlling unit controls the driving unit according to how a user operates the operating unit, such that the clamping unit is driven by the driving unit to move between an initial position, a pre-pulling position, and a severing position, allowing the clamping unit at the initial position to receive a rivet, the clamping unit at the pre-pulling position to clamp the rivet, and the clamping unit at the severing position to sever the rivet.
 2. The electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling of claim 1, wherein the user operates the operating unit in a first operation mode to move the clamping unit from the initial position to the pre-pulling position, operates the operating unit in a second operation mode to move the clamping unit from the pre-pulling position to the severing position, and operates the operating unit in a third operation mode to move the clamping unit from the pre-pulling position to the initial position.
 3. The electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling of claim 2, wherein the operating unit comprises a button for being pressed once in the first operation mode, pressed for a long period of time in the second operation mode, and pressed twice in the third operation mode.
 4. The electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling of claim 1, wherein the controlling unit causes automatically the clamping unit to move to the initial position and release the rivet when the clamping unit stays at the pre-pulling position throughout a predetermined duration.
 5. An operation method for the electric riveter capable of rivet pre-pulling of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: a: inserting a rivet into a clamping unit when the clamping unit is at an initial position; b: operating an operating unit in a first operation mode to cause the clamping unit to move from the initial position to a pre-pulling position and clamp the rivet; and c: operating the operating unit in a second operation mode to cause the clamping unit to move from the pre-pulling position to a severing position and sever the rivet.
 6. The operation method of claim 5, wherein the operating unit comprises a button for being pressed once in the first operation mode and pressed for a long period of time in the second operation mode.
 7. The operation method of claim 6, wherein the clamping unit returns to the initial position when the button has been pressed for a long period of time and then released.
 8. The operation method of claim 5, wherein, after step b, the operating unit is operated in a third operation mode to cause the clamping unit to move from the pre-pulling position to the initial position and release the rivet.
 9. The operation method of claim 8, wherein the operating unit comprises a button for being pressed twice in the third operation mode.
 10. The operation method of claim 5, wherein the controlling unit causes automatically the clamping unit to move to the initial position and release the rivet when the clamping unit stays at the pre-pulling position throughout a predetermined duration. 